New episode, new night.
Tonight should also feature the "Gorn Cannon."
Tonight should also feature the "Gorn Cannon."
Mythbusters: "Mini Myths"
- Thread starter Trekker4747
- Start date
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OclaRDU0fNg[/yt]
Ligthing a strike anywhere match with a bullet:
Impressive they got it to work (though I suspect it took more than "nine tries" like Jamie said to get it to work) I suspect though that striking the match on it's side, for greater surface-area contact, would've gotten better results. Oh, and I personally hate Safety Matches.
Shrek Ear Candle Wax:
Ew. Of all the things to test. The flamabilty of ear wax was pretty impressive I would've never guessed that. I always figured ear wax was "wax" in name only and not in any chemical sense. The scrounging of ear wax? Oy. Interesting they did it, I had always heard ear wax serves a purpose and removing it isn't condusive to good ear health.
And, man, it seems like they had a rough time processing the stuff into candles and really tested the limits of the gag reflexes. But, yeah, it figures it'd come down to compositon of the wax on whether it worked or not. But Mr. Pedantic in me will mention that we don't know how ogre wax is made up.
Hand in Water:
Like Jamie this is one I've always wondered about too. The water-alarm device thing was nifty. Adam has sleep apnea? Yikes! And, heh, he cuddles with a pillow like I do!
Not surprising it didn't work, bladder control is a miraculous thing. Though, I'd argue trying it on childred -with weaker bladder control- could've netted different results.
Gorn Cannon:
Grant's communicator looks like one of last year's Hallmark ornaments.
The re-enactment, again, was great. Better than showing the old clip.
The assumption Kirk knew the rations was good asumption to make, otherwise they would've spent a LOT of time trying to figure out what Kirk mixed together. But going through the different combinations/mixtures proves a flaw in the "myth." Grant and Tori do this stuff for a living and they couldn't get the best result on the first try. I guess we can assume that somewhere in Starfleet academy Kirk was taught how to precisely make powder from scratch.
So the bamboo failed. Well, maybe the bamboo on the planet was stronger? We could play this game all night. It was fun to see them test it and, it did hit the Gorn!
Hand in molten lead:
Not with molten lead, but in other very hot materials I've seen this done and have actualy done it. Having a wet hand, but not dripping, adds as a real nice barrier to prevent things from burning you. Fun to do.
When Jamie first "dipped" the sausage he did it way too slow. It's supposed to be real quick.
Overall, this was a fun episode.
Impressive they got it to work (though I suspect it took more than "nine tries" like Jamie said to get it to work) I suspect though that striking the match on it's side, for greater surface-area contact, would've gotten better results. Oh, and I personally hate Safety Matches.
Shrek Ear Candle Wax:
Ew. Of all the things to test. The flamabilty of ear wax was pretty impressive I would've never guessed that. I always figured ear wax was "wax" in name only and not in any chemical sense. The scrounging of ear wax? Oy. Interesting they did it, I had always heard ear wax serves a purpose and removing it isn't condusive to good ear health.
And, man, it seems like they had a rough time processing the stuff into candles and really tested the limits of the gag reflexes. But, yeah, it figures it'd come down to compositon of the wax on whether it worked or not. But Mr. Pedantic in me will mention that we don't know how ogre wax is made up.
Hand in Water:
Like Jamie this is one I've always wondered about too. The water-alarm device thing was nifty. Adam has sleep apnea? Yikes! And, heh, he cuddles with a pillow like I do!
Not surprising it didn't work, bladder control is a miraculous thing. Though, I'd argue trying it on childred -with weaker bladder control- could've netted different results.
Gorn Cannon:
Grant's communicator looks like one of last year's Hallmark ornaments.
The re-enactment, again, was great. Better than showing the old clip.
The assumption Kirk knew the rations was good asumption to make, otherwise they would've spent a LOT of time trying to figure out what Kirk mixed together. But going through the different combinations/mixtures proves a flaw in the "myth." Grant and Tori do this stuff for a living and they couldn't get the best result on the first try. I guess we can assume that somewhere in Starfleet academy Kirk was taught how to precisely make powder from scratch.
So the bamboo failed. Well, maybe the bamboo on the planet was stronger?
We could play this game all night. It was fun to see them test it and, it did hit the Gorn!Hand in molten lead:
Not with molten lead, but in other very hot materials I've seen this done and have actualy done it. Having a wet hand, but not dripping, adds as a real nice barrier to prevent things from burning you. Fun to do.
When Jamie first "dipped" the sausage he did it way too slow. It's supposed to be real quick.
Overall, this was a fun episode.
Lighting a match with a bullet: Wow, I'm surprised that worked. I wasn't sure a bullet would be abrasive enough or be in contact long enough. Still, without precisely calibrated aim, it's a one-in-a-million chance.
Ear wax candle: Eww. Didn't work so well, did it? It makes me wonder, does ear wax literally qualify as wax, or is that more an analogy? (Of course, one could argue that there's no reason a magical ogre couldn't have a more candle-like type of wax in its ears.)
In response to DrummerBoy: Yes, ear wax helps protect the ears, but it's not like there's a fixed amount that has to stay in there forever. You clean it out and more forms to take its place. Indeed, if you don't clean your ears enough, it builds up to excess.
Bed wetting: That's a weird myth. What's the principle behind it alleged to be? Anyway, no surprise it didn't work. Meanwhile, I'm a little worried to learn that Adam has sleep apnea. That can be dangerous. I hope the sleep therapists suggested some ways of helping.
Hand in molten lead: Wow, surprised that worked, though of course it was only for a split second. The physics is sound, but it's still a surprise.
Mailing a coconut: Another weird myth. But apparently true. Hm.
But the big one we've all been waiting for:
Gorn cannon: Hmm, about what I expected, based on the discussions I participated in about this myth on the Mythbusters Fan Club Forum a few years back. Getting the right gunpowder mix by random chance was extremely unlikely. So was getting the bamboo to contain the explosion or getting enough containment to throw the projectiles. So was surviving the explosion.
Of course, it was an alien environment and an arranged test. One can easily surmise that the Metrons provided an unusually tough bamboo-like plant without interior membranes, and that the chemicals they provided were more volatile than the normal ingredients of gunpowder. The effects might even have been simulated by something like holodeck technology.
I'm wondering what the Mythbusters used for the "diamonds." I'd assume it was something of equivalent density and weight.
And yeah, I also thought the communicators were probably the Hallmark ornaments, judging from the small size.
Sad news at the end, the memorial to rocketry expert Erik Gates. Apparently he suffered a fatal (non-rocket-related) accident a week ago: http://dankneelostrock.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/r-i-p-eri-gates/
Ear wax candle: Eww. Didn't work so well, did it? It makes me wonder, does ear wax literally qualify as wax, or is that more an analogy? (Of course, one could argue that there's no reason a magical ogre couldn't have a more candle-like type of wax in its ears.)
In response to DrummerBoy: Yes, ear wax helps protect the ears, but it's not like there's a fixed amount that has to stay in there forever. You clean it out and more forms to take its place. Indeed, if you don't clean your ears enough, it builds up to excess.
Bed wetting: That's a weird myth. What's the principle behind it alleged to be? Anyway, no surprise it didn't work. Meanwhile, I'm a little worried to learn that Adam has sleep apnea. That can be dangerous. I hope the sleep therapists suggested some ways of helping.
Hand in molten lead: Wow, surprised that worked, though of course it was only for a split second. The physics is sound, but it's still a surprise.
Mailing a coconut: Another weird myth. But apparently true. Hm.
But the big one we've all been waiting for:
Gorn cannon: Hmm, about what I expected, based on the discussions I participated in about this myth on the Mythbusters Fan Club Forum a few years back. Getting the right gunpowder mix by random chance was extremely unlikely. So was getting the bamboo to contain the explosion or getting enough containment to throw the projectiles. So was surviving the explosion.
Of course, it was an alien environment and an arranged test. One can easily surmise that the Metrons provided an unusually tough bamboo-like plant without interior membranes, and that the chemicals they provided were more volatile than the normal ingredients of gunpowder. The effects might even have been simulated by something like holodeck technology.
I'm wondering what the Mythbusters used for the "diamonds." I'd assume it was something of equivalent density and weight.
And yeah, I also thought the communicators were probably the Hallmark ornaments, judging from the small size.
Sad news at the end, the memorial to rocketry expert Erik Gates. Apparently he suffered a fatal (non-rocket-related) accident a week ago: http://dankneelostrock.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/r-i-p-eri-gates/
OK, so the Metron might have given Kirk a little assistance.
I wonder if they drank a couple of glasses of water before going to bed if they'd be more susceptible to the power of suggestion?
I'm kind of surprised they dipped their actual hands in the lead just for insurance purposes and safety and so on. You'd hate to have a twitch or spasm come on as you went to try that.
I wonder if they drank a couple of glasses of water before going to bed if they'd be more susceptible to the power of suggestion?
I'm kind of surprised they dipped their actual hands in the lead just for insurance purposes and safety and so on. You'd hate to have a twitch or spasm come on as you went to try that.
Or maybe the coconut worked because they postal system recognized the Mythbusters address; they probably get weird and oversized/undersized packages all the time.
Overall, one of the most enjoyable episode on a good while.
Overall, one of the most enjoyable episode on a good while.
I'm not sure the post office would/could make "special exceptions" on mailed packages. (My TiFaux hiccuped and I missed the first minute or two of this episode so I didn't catch the set-up for the coconut myth.
But, yeah, this was one of the more enjoyable episodes in a while.
Well, I know of one famous actor, for example, you don't have to have the address for. All you got to do is write his name and city/state on there, and it'll get to him 'cause the postal people in that town make an exception. A small one, but Mythbusters aren't a common postal customer.
Great episode, best in a long time imo.
Ha, I loved the use of the "Wilhelm Scream" when the Gorn got shot by the cannon in the re-enactment.
